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Destination BC Bulletin 24: COVID-19
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Rediscover BC in a whole new season.
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Helping British Columbians 'Fall for BC'
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As part of our fall recovery marketing campaign, we have produced a series of digital-optimized videos to inspire seasonal travel throughout the province. The videos highlight must-do activities and adventures through the lens of each of our six experience collections, reminding viewers that fall is the perfect time to discover new places and rediscover old favourites in BC. Four out of the six videos are live, along with the kick-off “Fall for BC” video. Stay tuned for the remaining two, coming soon. Feel free to share the videos on your own channels.
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Destination BC Brews Up New #exploreBC Partnership
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To inspire British Columbians to explore their own province along BC’s ale trails this fall, we brewed up a partnership with the BC Ale Trail team and six craft breweries to bring you the Explore BC IPA! Launched as part of our Explore BC marketing campaign, the new limited-edition craft beer invites residents to taste the flavours of British Columbia while touring the BC Ale Trail, helping to support BC’s tourism and hospitality industries over the coming months.
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Field House Brewing | BC Ale Trail
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The BC Ale Trail is a series of self-guided tours highlighting craft brewery destinations in BC and the array of experiences and adventures that surround them. Within each of the eighteen different Ale Trails, there are recommended itineraries taking travellers to craft breweries, pubs, restaurants, cafes, outdoor activities, sightseeing, accommodation and more. With newly-launched Sip and Stay Packages and travel ideas on how to Follow the BC Ale Trail This Fall, our call for British Columbians to explore BC is stronger than ever.
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#exploreBC with Locals: Meet @benhagkull from Chilliwack.
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“Explore BC with Locals” Series
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Our 'Explore BC with Locals' series, launched as a pilot project this summer, will continue into the fall and winter. In this social media series, we invite BC residents to share their favourite ways to experience and explore the place they call home. Nineteen residents have been featured to date, with a different feature each week shared on our consumer Instagram and Facebook channels. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook as we continue to show how travel can connect us with the people and places we love.
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Apply by Tuesday October 27, 2020.
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Join our Tourism Marketing Committee
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We're seeking five representatives to join our Tourism Marketing Committee for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2021, from the following tourism regions:
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Two representatives from Vancouver, Coast & Mountains;
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One representative from Thompson Okanagan;
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One representative from Kootenay Rockies;
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One representative from Northern British Columbia.
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Destination BC presents at the Girl About Travel Club Extravaganza.
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Building Destination Awareness in the UK
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Girl About Travel – described as ‘TripAdvisor for women in the UK’ – is a new online community for women who love travel. It boasts a network of specialist travel agents on hand to book bespoke itineraries for its consumer travel club, and has a following of 25,000 on Facebook. Destination BC participated in the launch of its travel club on September 19 with a 50-minute interactive presentation to 350 virtual attendees to build destination awareness and excitement about British Columbia.
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Vineyard at Covert Farm | Destination BC/Andrew Strain
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BC Features in Australian Media
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British Columbia continues to be a source of inspiration for Australian media long after they visit the province. Journalist Chloe Cann, who travelled to the Thompson Okanagan region last year, tells tales of BC's bountiful wine countries to the wine lovers of Australia in Halliday Magazine, while journalist, Rachael Oakes-Ash, unveils the new cabins at Red Mountain on SnowsBest.com.
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Our Learning Centre provides access to resources and tools, best practices, workshops, and training programs for BC’s tourism industry.
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Join our Tourism Digital Academy
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Are you ready to develop the thinking, tools and tactics needed to achieve your digital marketing goals? Join our Tourism Digital Academy—a free, 8-week digital marketing program designed for BC tourism business owners or their marketing team members ready for an intermediate level of learning. Each week, you will progressively build and strengthen an action-oriented marketing plan, customized to the specific needs, customers, challenges and opportunities of your tourism business.
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All participants must have a minimum level of digital experience and a business website. Currently there are three intakes, beginning the weeks of October 19, October 26, and November 9. Take note of the application deadlines—those hoping to join the first intake must apply by October 8.
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Utilize our Partnership with Small Businesses BC
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Our new partnership with Small Business BC can support your tourism business with free access to Small Business BC's expert-led suite of Advisory and Education Services. Seek one-on-one expert advice from lawyers, accountants, HR professionals and others, as well as business strategy advisory support, plus access Small Business BC’s collection of over 300 education webinars.
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Claim your HelloBC.com Business Listing
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Your business listing on HelloBC.com plays an important role in converting dream trips into actual bookings. It’s quick, easy, and free to set up your listing. Plus, your HelloBC.com business listing pulls core information from your Tripadvisor profile, making it simple to manage both. Any changes made to your Tripadvisor listing will automatically appear on HelloBC.com the next day. If you’re a Destination Marketing Organization, please encourage your members to claim their listings now!
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COVID-19 Research and Insights: BC and Canada
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To support BC’s tourism industry, we continue to actively monitor the travel and tourism landscape in the context of COVID-19. We have now made our research and insights easier to find through a dedicated COVID-19 Research & Insights page. Here, you will find:
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Roundup reports comprising research and articles each week related to the travel and tourism industry and COVID-19.
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Public Perceptions reports which monitor British Columbian’s current views on travel and tourism as well as tracks travel and tourism behaviour intentions.
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Destination Canada’s Global Tourism Watch Special Survey focused on Canadians’ travel intentions, perceptions and behaviours in the context of managing travel and visitors during COVID-19.
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We also developed a Signals & Sentiment Dashboard to follow core markets. The dashboard data will help us, and BC’s tourism industry, quickly understand which markets and audiences can start travelling again, and when, helping us make informed decisions on marketing activities.
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COVID-19 Research and Insights: International
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To support global tourism, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new Tourism Recovery Tracker. Available for free, it covers key tourism performance indicators by month, regions and subregions allowing for a real time comparison of the sector recovery across the world and industries. Further global resources include:
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Skift has a live roundup of coronavirus-related tourism news as well as a Global Travel Reopening Timeline.
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MPI has created a Coronavirus Resource page that pulls together meetings and events information as well as links to other resources helpful to the Business Events industry.
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The Travel and Tourism Research Association has a COVID-19 Resource Centre which lists various research findings related to travel and COVID-19.
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Celebrate BC Wine Harvest Month this October.
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October is BC Wine Harvest Month
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In collaboration with Destination BC and local industry partners, Wines of BC has launched BC Wine Harvest Month from October 1 to 31, to celebrate all things harvest and work together with industry for a strong and bright future for British Columbia wine, hospitality, and tourism. The campaign aims to create awareness of BC Wine Harvest and encourage local support, while inspiring consumers to Go Where the Road Wines and explore BC wine country, all while using the new Wines of BC Explorer app.
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Myra Canyon Ranch shares their story of resilience.
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BC Tourism Stories of Resilience
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The BC Tourism Resiliency Network (BCTRN) continues to add to its “Stories of Resilience” series, which profiles tourism businesses in BC who, in the face of adversity due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, have been able to adapt and are on the road to recovery and long-term resiliency. Through sharing these stories, the BCTRN hopes that tourism businesses will find shared connections with industry partners and their communities, and encourage participation in the tourism resiliency program.
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Government of Canada CERB Ending: Transitioning to New Benefits
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The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) ends on October 3, 2020. Those who still require income support may be eligible to transition to new benefits: Employment Insurance or Canada Recovery Benefits.
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Sea to Sky Gondola Reward
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The Sea to Sky Gondola has announced a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the damage to the Sea to Sky Gondola on September 14, 2020 as well as the prior incident on August 10, 2019.
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ISCBC InvasiveWise Tourism Survey
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The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) is conducting a new Invasive Wise Tourism Pilot Program to help ensure invasive species are not introduced, moved or released in BC. Please take 10–15 minutes to complete the survey to support this important program and be entered into a prize draw.
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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Here's how to stay connected on the latest from Destination BC:
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If you have questions that can't be answered through the various resources on our website and official channels, please send them to [email protected] and we will work to address them.
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